Washer extractor and method

ABSTRACT

A method of washing fabric articles provides a washer extractor having a reservoir for holding fabric articles and a washing liquid. A washing liquid is pumped from the reservoir to the washer extractor interior. The ratio of pounds of washing liquid to pounds of fabric articles is about 4 to 1, plus absorbed water. Fluid is pulse flowed to the textile articles at a volume of between about 0.5 to 2 gallons (2 to 8 liters) per pound (0.45 kg) of fabric articles for a selected time interval. Washing chemicals are added to the washer extractor. Water is transmitted to the washer extractor at the rate of 0.35 to 0.6 gallons (1.33 to 2.3 liters) of water per pound (0.45 kg) of fabric articles within a selected time interval.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non provisional patent application of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/309,294, filed 1 Mar. 2010.

Priority of US Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/309,294, filed1 Mar. 2010, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to washer extractors, more particularly toan improved washer extractor that uses high velocity overflow rinsing toeliminate most or all of the fill and drain steps typically associatedwith prior art washer extractors. Even more particularly, the presentinvention relates to an improved washer extractor that uses a highvelocity of water to increase the hydraulic pressure on the soil in thefabric articles and suspended in the wash liquor, thus reducing theamount of rinse water required.

2. General Background of the Invention

Prior art washes and rinses linen with successive fill and drain steps.A typical wash formula comprises between 6 and 15 steps, depending onlinen soil classification.

Because each step drains the wash/rinse liquor, water consumption isgenerally between two (2) and four (4) gallons (8 and 15 liters) perpound (0.45 kg) of processed linen.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The design of the present invention provides an improved washerextractor. This invention uses high velocity overflow rinsing toeliminate most, if not all, fill and drain steps. The high velocity ofthe water increases the hydraulic pressure on the soil in the linen andsuspended in the wash liquor, thus reducing the amount of rinse waterrequired.

Typical water consumption with this system is between about one (1) andtwo (2) gallons (4 and 8 liters) per pound (0.45 kg) of processed linen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages ofthe present invention, reference should be had to the following detaileddescription, read in conjunction with the following drawings, whereinlike reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention, designated generally by the numeral 10. Washer extractorapparatus 10 provides a machine 11 which can be in the form of a drum,extractor, or any other machine capable of washing textiles such aslinens and/or extracting water from textile articles such as linens.

Machine or drum 11 provides drum interior 12. Tank 13 can be used to mixfresh cold and fresh hot water. The mixture of hot/cold water is thenpumped to machine 11 interior 12. Tank 13 provides tank interior 14where hot and cold source water is mixed to provide fluid having aselected temperature. Tank 13 can be drained using flow line 21 andvalve 22. A first influent flow line 15 can be used to add fresh coldwater to tank 13 interior 14. First influent flow line 15 can beprovided with valve 16. Flow line 15 connects to a fresh cold watersource 17.

Second influent flow line 18 can also be provided with a valve 19. Theflow line 18 connects to a fresh hot water source 20. As part of themethod of the present invention, the valves 16 and 19 are modulated inorder to provide a water volume in tank 13 interior 14 of a selectedtemperature. The water in tank 13 interior 14 is transmitted via flowline 23 to pump 24. In the preferred embodiment, the machine 11 isfilled with water at a temperature of preferably about 120 degrees F.(49 degrees C.).

The machine 11 interior 12 is filled with selected fabric articles to berinsed, such as linen articles. Water in the tank 13 is transmitted viathe flow line 23 to the machine 11 interior 12 to provide a liquor ratioof about four (4) pounds (1.8 kg) liquor per pound (0.45 kg) of fabricarticle or linen, plus absorbed water. As part of the method, alkali canbe added to the mixture of water and linen or fabric articles in machine11 interior 12.

Water is then pulsed flowed into interior 12 via inlet nozzle or inletorifice 44 (see arrow 25) at a volume of between about one half (0.5)and two (2.0) gallons (1.9 and 7.6 liters) per pound (0.45 kg) for thelast sixty (60) seconds of a rinsing step. Selected chemicals fromchemical source 27 can be added to the mixture of water and fabricarticles as a second step of the method of the present invention (seearrow 26 in FIG. 1). For example, detergent and/or alkali can be addedto the water and fabric article mixture in tank 11.

The pump 24 delivers between about 0.35 and 0.6 gallons (1.33 and 2.3liters) of water per pound (0.45 kg) of linen in about two (2) minutes.A sour solution can then be added to the machine 11 interior 12. Aswater is pulsed into interior 12 via nozzle or orifice 44 (see arrow 25in FIG. 1), excess water can overflow from the interior 11 via outlet orweir 43. The normal fluid level is thus represented schematically by thedotted line 45 in FIG. 1. Water so discharged via overflow drain flowline 28 can flow through opened valve 29 to tee fitting 30. The overflowliquid can then be drained to sewer as indicated by arrow 35 orrecovered to tank 13 as indicated by arrow 32. In order to recover fluidfrom flow line 28, valve 34 in drain line 33 is closed and valve 31 isopened.

The liquor is then extracted from the machine 11 via flow line 36. Thisextraction can be accomplished by opening valve 39 or 42 and closing theother of these two valves. Flow line 36 and valve 42 can be used torecover this extracted liquor. For recovery of extracted liquor, valve39 is closed and valve 42 is opened.

Arrow 37 in FIG. 1 illustrates a recovery of extracted liquid withreturn to tank 13. If the extracted liquid is to be drained to sewer,valve 42 is closed and valve 39 is opened. Extracted fluid thandischarges to sewer via drain flow line 40 and valve 39 as illustratedby arrow 41 in FIG. 1. A tee fitting 38 can be provided to mate flowlines 36 and 40 as seen in FIG. 1. This tee fitting 38 communicates withdrain line 40 for discharging any selected fluid to sewer as illustratedby arrow 41 in FIG. 1.

The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in thepresent invention.

PARTS LIST Part Number Description 10 pulse flow washer extractorapparatus 11 machine/drum 12 drum interior 13 tank 14 tank interior 15first influent flow line 16 valve 17 fresh cold water source 18 secondinfluent flow line 19 valve 20 fresh hot water source 21 drain line 22valve 23 discharge flow line 24 pump 25 arrow 26 arrow 27 chemicalsource 28 overflow drain flow line 29 valve 30 tee fitting 31 valve 32arrow 33 drain line 34 valve 35 arrow 36 recovery flow line 37 arrow 38tee fitting 39 valve 40 drain flow line 41 arrow 42 valve 43 outlet/weir44 inlet opening/orifice/nozzle 45 dotted line/fluid level

All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature andpressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. Allmaterials used or intended to be used in a human being arebiocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; thescope of the present invention is to be limited only by the followingclaims.

1. A method of washing fabric articles, comprising the steps of: a)providing a reservoir of washing liquid; b) providing a washer extractorhaving an interior for holding fabric articles; c) placing fabricarticles to be washed in the interior of the washer extractor; d)pumping the washing liquid from the reservoir to the washer extractorinterior; e) adding washing chemicals to the washer extractor interior;f) transmitting rinse water to the washing extractor interior at a rateof 0.35 to 0.6 gallons (1.33 and 2.3 liters) of water per pound (0.45kg) of fabric articles within a selected time interval; and g)extracting liquid from the washer extractor after step “f”.
 2. Themethod of washing fabric articles of claim 1 wherein one of thechemicals of step “e” is an alkali.
 3. The method of washing fabricarticles of claim 1 wherein one of the chemicals of step “e” is adetergent.
 4. The method of washing fabric articles of claim 1 whereinone of the chemicals of step “e” is a sour solution.
 5. The method ofwashing fabric articles of claim 1 wherein water consumption is betweenabout 1 and 2 gallons (4 and 8 liters) per pound (0.45 kg) of processedfabric articles.
 6. The method of washing fabric articles of claim 1wherein the water temperature in step “d” is in excess of 100 degrees F.(38 degrees C.).
 7. The method of washing fabric articles of claim 1wherein the water temperature in step “d” is in excess of 120 degrees F.(49 degrees C.).
 8. The method of washing fabric articles of claim 1wherein the time interval of step “f′ is about one minute.
 9. The methodof washing fabric articles of claim 1 wherein the time interval of step“f′ is about two minutes.
 10. The method of washing fabric articles ofclaim 1 wherein the ratio of pounds of washing liquid to pounds offabric articles is about 4 to 1, plus absorbed water.
 11. A washerextractor apparatus, comprising: a) a washer extractor for holdingfabric articles to be washed in a washing liquid having an associatedreservoir and a washer extractor interior; b) a reservoir having a flowline that enables transmission of washing liquid from the reservoir tothe washer extractor interior; c) a pump that enables flowing of rinsefluid to the fabric articles at a volume of between about 0.5 to 2.0gallons (2-8 liters) per pound (0.45 kg) of fabric articles for aselected time interval; d) wherein said pump is capable of transmittingwater to the washer extractor at the rate of 0.35 to 0.6 gallons(1.33-2.3 liters) of water per pound (0.45 kg) of fabric articles withina selected time interval; and e) a flow line that enables extraction ofliquid from the washer extractor.
 12. The washer extractor of claim 11further comprising a flow line for adding chemicals to the washerextractor interior.
 13. The washer extractor of claim 11 wherein waterconsumption is between about 1 and 2 gallons (4-8 liters) per pound(0.45 kg) of washed and fluid extracted fabric articles.
 14. A method ofwashing fabric articles, comprising the steps of: a) providing areservoir of washing liquid; b) providing a washer extractor having aninterior for holding fabric articles; c) placing fabric articles to bewashed in the interior of the washer extractor; d) pumping the washingliquid from the reservoir to the washer extractor interior wherein thewasher extractor interior has a liquid upper surface; e) controlling theliquid upper surface level with a weir that continuously dischargesexcess water from the washer extractor interior, said weir having a weireffluent; f) adding washing chemicals to the washer extractor interior;g) transmitting rinse water to the washing extractor interior at a rateof 0.35 to 0.6 gallons (1.33 to 2.3 liters) of water per pound (0.45 kg)of fabric articles within a selected time interval; and h) extractingliquid from the washer extractor after step “f′, wherein excess liquidthat has been added in step “f” is discharged via the weir.
 15. Themethod of washing fabric articles of claim 14 wherein one of thechemicals of step “f” is an alkali.
 16. The method of washing fabricarticles of claim 14 wherein one of the chemicals of step “f” is adetergent.
 17. The method of washing fabric articles of claim 14 whereinone of the chemicals of step “f” is a sour solution.
 18. The method ofwashing fabric articles of claim 14 wherein water consumption is betweenabout 1 and 2 gallons (4-8 liters) per pound (0.45 kg) of processedfabric articles.
 19. The method of washing fabric articles of claim 14wherein the water temperature in step “d” is in excess of about 100degrees F.
 20. The method of washing fabric articles of claim 14 whereinthe water temperature in step “d” is in excess of 120 degrees F.
 21. Themethod of washing fabric articles of claim 14 wherein the time intervalof step “g” is about one minute.
 22. The method of washing fabricarticles of claim 14 wherein the time interval of step “g” is about twominutes.
 23. The method of washing fabric articles of claim 14 whereinthe ratio of pounds of washing liquid to pounds of fabric articles isabout 4 to 1, plus absorbed water.
 24. The method of claim 1 wherein theextracted liquid of step “g” is transmitted to the reservoir of step“a”.
 25. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a flow line forenabling transmission of the extracted liquid to the reservoir.
 26. Themethod of claim 14 wherein the extracted liquid of step “h” istransmitted to the reservoir of step “a”.
 27. The method of claim 1wherein at least some of the extracted liquid of step “g” isre-circulated to comprise at least a part of the rinse water of step“g”.
 28. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a re-circulationflow line connecting the washer extractor to the reservoir, wherein saidre-circulation flow line enables transmission of at least some of theextracted liquid to the reservoir so that at least some of saidextracted liquid becomes a part of the rinse water.
 29. The method ofclaim 14 wherein at least some of the extracted liquid of step “g” isre-circulated to comprise at least a part of the rinse water of step“g”.
 30. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a re-circulationflow line that conveys all or part of said weir effluent to saidreservoir.